Understanding Spouse’s Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 25, 2021
Marriage is a cultural institution that exists all over the world. Having a partner means sharing many things including a home and other property. Understanding how your future retirement might affect your spouse is important. When you’re planning for your fun and vibrant golden years, here are a few things to remember:
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to 50 percent of your spouse’s full retirement age amount if you are full retirement age when you take it. If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse’s benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses). If you took your reduced retirement first while waiting for your spouse to reach retirement age, when you add spouse’s benefits later, your own retirement portion remains reduced which causes the total retirement and spouses benefit together to total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. You can find out more on our website.
On the other hand, if your spouse’s retirement benefit is higher than your retirement benefit, and he or she chooses to take reduced benefits and dies first, your survivor benefit will be reduced, but may be higher than what your spouse received.
If the deceased worker started receiving reduced retirement benefits before their full retirement age, a special rule called the retirement insurance benefit limit may apply to the surviving spouse. The retirement insurance benefit limit is the maximum survivor benefit you may receive. Generally, the limit is the higher of:
- The reduced monthly retirement benefit to which the deceased spouse would have been entitled if they had lived, or
- 82.5 percent of the unreduced deceased spouse’s monthly benefit if they had started receiving benefits at their full retirement age (rather than choosing to receive a reduced retirement benefit early).
Knowing how your finances affect your spouse’s can help both of you avoid future impacts on your incomes. When it comes to information, we have over 80 years of experience. Access a wealth of useful information by visiting our benefits planners.
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Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Linda
I turned 62 before Jan 2, 2016 and took my retirement early at age 62. My husband began taking his retirement benefits at 66 also turning 66 before Jan 2, 2016. I was told at the time that I could apply for his benefits at the time, but my benefits would be at a reduced rate for the rest of my life, so I said no. I decided to take mine at a reduced rate since I could apply for 50% of his when I turned 66. Now since I am turning 66 and the law now reads that when you apply for you are deemed to apply for both your spouses and your own. Am I going to have a problem refiling to receive 50% of my spouses retirement. My understanding at the time was that I would always continue to get mine, but I would at age 66 receive another check to make my amount be 50% of my husbands. Thanking you ahead for your response, since I have not been able to find this situation and question answered.
V.V.
Hi Linda, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, because you applied for your own retirement benefit early, you are not eligible for half of your spouse’s benefit at your full retirement age.
For example, if a worker’s full retirement benefit amount is $1,100, the spousal benefit is 50 percent of that, or $550. However, if that spouse is eligible for a full retirement benefit on their own record of $400, then their actual spouse’s benefit would be an additional $150 which equals that 50 percent. If that spouse filed early for retirement, that $400 would be reduced. If they later file for the spousal benefit at their full retirement age, they would receive the full $150 but their total benefit would not be half because of that early retirement benefit.
MILDRED L.
Please explain how SS calculates the following situation:
Husband on disability. with SS. Wife on government pension at age 60.
Husband passes away & wife learns she is entitled to SS widows allowance from SS.
How is this calculated ? Government offset is not clear on the percentage and on what figure is used for it.
Your input to on this will be greatly appreciated.
V.V.
Hi Mildred: If you receive a pension from a government job in which you did not pay Social Security taxes, some or all of your Social Security spouse’s, widow’s, or widower’s benefit may be offset due to receipt of that pension. This offset is referred to as the Government Pension Offset, or GPO. For additional details, check out our Government Pension Offset factsheet and the GPO Calculator.
Dianna S.
My spouse’s social security is approx 1,393.00
My social security is approx 1,263.00
He has cancer and I am trying to figure out my living arrangements upon his death. We have no savings.
Can you give me an idea for planning on how much of a survivor amount I will be eligible for?
V.V.
Hi Dianna, thank you for your question. Your survivors benefit will be based on the amount your husband was receiving. The percentage of that amount that you would receive depends on how old you are when you file as a widow. We are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either record, meaning you don’t get both retirement and widow(er)s benefits but the higher of the two.
Widows benefit are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widows benefit at full retirement age or older.
Use our Survivors Planner to more details.
EARLE W.
huh ??????????????????????????
Lillian
I work full-time but my partner is on SSDI. Neither of us have reached retirement age as we are each only 58 years old. How will us getting married affect his SSDI benefits?
V.V.
Hi Lillian, thanks for using our blog to ask you question. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information. Thanks!
DENNIS T.
Is there a service available whereby I ask a question about spousal benefits that have been previously applied for and are currently being paid ?
V.V.
Hi Dennis, thank you for your question. To inquire about benefit payments, you will need to contact your local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Sandra T.
What if you are a retired teacher in CA
William M.
It would be nice if this presentation used the “Keep It Simple” (KISS) approach. A simple summary at the beginning with complex explanations later. And have a non-lawyer do it.
I’m a CPA with over 50 years experience. I found this presentation very confusing. Social Security is significant part of my discussions with tax clients.
I’ll redo it for you if you would like.
Aung S.
This is Aung Shwe.I get testicular cancer.I two years medical treatment after i stay out of united state myanmar. I can not walk.always is lying bed.i have alone.nobody help. I marriage .not legally.
No wedding.They stop my benefit.i going to medical treadment.please help for right answer.
last four digit social security 1085
Address
Kamar yut township
Best wishes
Aung Shwe myanmar
A.C.
Hi, Aung. We are sorry to hear about your condition and situation. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can address in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. For assistance outside of the U.S., contact your Federal Benefits Unit. We hope this is resolved soon.
Kuldip G.
It will be very helpful if Social Security Administration includes some examples with dollars.